Saturday, August 30, 2014

OK, talk about a trip down memory lane - I'm taking that trip this weekend. I recently purchased a 3 pack of Lomography Color Negative 200 Tiger 110 film. Yes sir, 110. Got the film from the Film Photography Project store. I hadn't shot that sized film since I was a kid & young adult.

Well, over the past year I've picked up a few 110 cameras at Goodwill. Two that I'm shooting this weekend are a Kodak Star 110 camera, and a Kodak Pocket Instamatic 20 camera. Both are point & shoot goodness.

We'll see how these go! When I get the film back from being ultimately processed I'll write a separate blog post on each.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

I stopped over at Roberts Camera today and picked up some film that was processed. This is the camera store where I normally taking in my film for processing. This time I had film in from my Yashica Mat-124G (a TLR), a Kodak Easy Load KE30 point & shoot and a Prinz Alternative EZ-200 point & shoot. I'll write a post on each.

In the meantime all the cameras appeared to work. There were some moderate light leaks with the Prinz, but the film I'm using is expired and I suspect wasn't stored in a refrig, so there's that. More than likely however it's the camera. Here's a photo from each

On a sad note, I learned Roberts will stop processing 120 film in the very near future. That was the last place in Indianapolis to process 120 that I'm aware of. Yes, that's correct, one of the largest cities in the USA and there is no 120 film processing readily available. Oh well either I have to do it myself (I'd prefer not...been there done that) or send it out someplace. We'll see.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Toy Camera fun-ness right here. I'm currently shooting with the Split-Cam from Accoutrements who claim they are "outfitters of popular culture". OK, if they say so.

The fun part of this camera is that you take 2 images and "fuse" them together. There is a black sliding curtain that blocks either the top or the bottom of the image. You slide either the top or bottom slider, snap as shot, push a small switch that re-cocks the shutter but doesn't advance the film, reverse the curtain and take another shot. You have to thin strip photos "fused" together....get it.

This beauty is all plastic, kind of cheap feeling and YELLOW. Note it matches my bike riding gloves as I took it with me during my long bike ride tonight.

BTW, the instructions on the camera...no BS says, "The Split-Cam is not a precision instrument. Be gentle...." Got to love the honesty. Stay tuned to this channel for more information.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Next up is my Chinon Flash II. Yes, a classic "toy camera" or as I've read these types of cameras called a "trash cam". It's ever the bit of a plasticy camera that tried real hard to look and feel like a high end rangefinder. Yes, it's a Japanese camera, but this beauty was produced in Hong Kong, and I can tell you from living in Hong Kong, it's a cheapo camera. It even has a weight in the base of the camera to give it more heft (not that they would fool a knowledgeable photographer into thinking this is a professional camera).

But you know what, it works. I got this camera at the local Goodwill outlet last year and paid no more than $0.50. I've run a few rolls through it previously with reasonable results, including a fair amount of light leaks. I recently put a roll of Konica Monochrome VX400 through it for this blog post. The funny thing about the film is I bet it's at least 15 years old. I have no clue when I bought it, but it was in an old camera bag I hadn't opened in years until recently. Hmmm, will it work?

The Chinon Flash II is mounted with a "Chinon Color Lens" which says it's "Made in Japan". Not really sure what a "color" lens is, but OK. I didn't find much about the camera online, but Chinon made a range of point & shoots and film SLR's. The lens is 38mm lens with f/4 printed on the face. However, the lens barrel has a standard Sun, Cloud, Flash indicator which tells me the aperture is variable, so I guess the widest is f/4. Not very speedy, but a great focal length for street and general photography.

The camera has a flash activated by sliding the flash out from the camera body. Mine is loose so it's tough to operate as it gets jammed. But, it's effective. Takes 2 AA batteries which is convenient. The batteries also runs a basic light meter activating a bright, little red light in the bottom of the viewfinder indicating the image is too dark. The light meter is on the front of the lens. Seems to work pretty well. Film range is limited to 100 - 400 ASA.

Easy to load with a standard film advance lever. Shutter release button sits comfortably at your finger, sticking up very high. There is no shutter release lock which would be nice for the prominant shutter release. Here are photos of the top & back.

Overall, a fun, simple little camera. No focusing, just point & shoot. If the red light pops on then simply turn the barrel through the 3 symbols to get it to proper aperture. If the light is still on then activate the flash.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

It's probably obvious by this blog I still enjoy film photography. What you might have also guessed is I enjoy reading about & studying film photography / cameras. So, if you have a film-centric website or blog let me know. Either post down below or send me an email through the contact app on the front page of this blog. If I think others might like to visit your site or I want to stay up with it, I'll cross post a link to your URL on the sidebar of this blog. Lets start a conversation, so bring it!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

If you read my earlier post, I just finished shooting with a Kodak Easy Load film camera. Need to take the film in for development to see how she works. What next you ask? I rummaged through my pile of film cameras and came up with this cheap point & shoot. The Prinz Alternative EZ-200.

OK, I know nothing about this camera and haven't found much online in a quick search. All I know is it's "Alternative". Hmmm, it shoots "Standard" & "Panorama". It's living a bi-lifestyle. Cool, I don't judge.

You can tell this is a cheap camera because there is a weight added in the bottom to give it a more substantial feel. However, it appears the weight has broken loose and now it's rattling around the base. Another of my Goodwill finds. More later.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

As you might tell from this photo not only do I have fun shooting film cameras I also enjoy shooting instant film. I have a range of Polaroid & Fuji instant cameras. If it weren't for the fact that the film was so expensive I'd shoot it all the time. I did however pick up this sweet camera the other day on Amazon. The FujiFilm Instax 210.

I tried it out the other day during an model agency test shoot in my studio. I bought it because the film is 2 x's the size of the Instax Mini business card size and the camera offers a bit more control. I'll write a more detailed blog post on the Instax 210 ASAP. In the meantime here are a few scanned photos from Sunday's shoot (sorry for the low quality, the scanning wasn't the best). Initial feedback on the Instax 210, I LIKE IT.

OK, as a follow-up to my post on my Kodak Easy Load eating film. Well I think I tamed the beast. I put another roll of Mitsubishi MX-III 12 through it today and it worked. Yep, loaded OK, snapped 12 shots, it made that whining sound, I pushed the button that rewinds the film, and it appears to have worked. Now I have to simply get the film developed to see if the camera really works.

Ultimately, this camera may be more of a pain than it's worth, but hey, this is all for fun anyway.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Here's the story. So, I go to the Goodwill Outlet. This Kodak Easy Load KE30 is sitting there all lonely asking me to buy it. OK I say, for less than 25 cents, you're mine. I take this cute little beauty home. I'm a good guy that way. I give her 2 AAA batteries. Thanks, Steve, she's telling me.

I go out Sunday and want to shoot a roll during a model shoot in studio. Yes, yes, I know, model shoot in studio, and you're whipping out a point & shoot film camera for BTS photos. But oh no, this camera says NO, I'm the only cute one here, so she revolts. Can't get the film to load correctly, and when I finally think I have it - it doesn't advance. I open the film door to fix it, and the film auto rewinds all the way back into the film can. One roll dead.

No problems my precious, I load it with another roll, and after work tonight I shoot 12 images (see there is a reason I bought a brick of 12 image rolls on eBay). I'm thinking this camera is pretty sweet. Easy, no dramas, just point & shoot.

OK, so I'm finished with # 12 and the camera makes this sound like the film is rewinding. I think, cool, I'm at the end. I then open the film door, and the film hasn't rewound back into the container. I have to yank it out and you see the results. Argh, I forgot to push the little button that rewinds the film....face palm.

I'll give it one more try this week, but if I can't get the camera to load and rewind correctly - trash bin for you.